Ship-cleaner.



G. W. RAMER.

SHIP CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Swmmioz FTC.

GEORGE W. RAMER, OF DAVIS CREEK, CALIFORNIA.

SHIP-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed July 24, 1911. Serial No. 640,245.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE l/V. RAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Davis Creek, in the county of Modoc, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ship-Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a device for cleaning the bulls of ships and has for its object to produce a device which is simple in construction and efficient in operation and one which may be easily and conveniently arranged in relation to the side of a ship to remove therefrom all deposits which have accumulated thereon.

A further object of the invention is to construct a device of this character and to combine therewith a pneumatically operated turbine for operating the same.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claim hereto appended; it bein understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claim, may be re sorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is an elevation of the device, the side coincident with the ships side being presented. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the scraper blades.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a casing and in which is mounted a turbine wheel 2, preferably of the impact type. An inlet port 3 is provided in the side of the casing and has threaded therein a nipple a and to which is suitably coupled an air pipe 5. An exhaust port 6 is formed in the casing 1 and is also provided with a similarly connected discharge pipe 7, said pipe being of sufficient length to have its outer end adapted to be, when in use, projected above the surface of the water, whereby when the turbine is operated the agitation of exhausting directly in the water is eliminated, thus allowing the device to 0p erate without any undue agitation.

Extending through the bottom of the easing 1 is a shaft 8 and to which is rigidly secured the turbine wheel 2 at its upper end. A spline 9 is formed upon the lower end of the shaft 8, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

A pair of oppositely disposed scraper blades 10 are provided and have their inner ends integrally connected to a hub 11, said hub being provided with a slot 12 to register with the spline 9 when the hub is in its position upon the lower end of the shaft 8, thereby compelling the hub to rotate with the shaft 8, but at the same time allowing the same to have slight vertical movement thereon. The hub is held in its proper rela tion upon the shaft 8 by a headed screw 13 which is threaded in a suitable opening formed in the lower end of the shaft 8.

Surrounding that part of the shaft which extends through the casing 1 is a coil spring 14, said spring having its upper terminal resting against the casing 1 and having its lower terminal resting against the hub 11, said spring acting to exert a constant outward pressure upon the hub 11. The shaft 8 and spring 14: are inclosed within a sleeve 15 which is formed integral with the easmg 1.

Rigidly secured at their inner ends to the sides of the casing 1 and extending radially therefrom is a plurality of arms 16, said arms having their outer ends formed with apertures 17 and socketed extensions 18 having mounted therein caster wheels 19 for engagement with the sides of a ship.

A ring of stout metal 20 is provided and is passed through the eye 17 formed in the arms 16 and held securely therein by set screws 21.

The scraper blades 10 are arranged angularly with relation to the hub 11 so as to present their scraping edges 22 below the plane of the hub to engage the sides of the ship at an angle relative to the said blades. It will be noted that the scraping edges are thus arranged upon opposite sides of the hub so when the same is rapidly rotated the scraping edges will contact directly with the ships sides and upon the same arc.

Connected to the ring 20 is an eye 23 and to which is connected a cable, (not shown) so that the device may be raised and lowered for operation upon the side of a ship.

Compressed air may be fed to the turbine from any source desired.

The operation is as follows: The device is lowered so as to allow the scraper blades to contact with the sides of the ship, the casters 19 preventing any friction during the placing of the device, and in measure protecting the scraper blades. Air is admitted to the turbine which rapidly rotates the hub and blades through the shaft 8, the scraping edges of said blades being held in yielding contact with the sides of the ship by the spring let, the angularly arranged blades when rapidly rotating having a tendency to force the cutting edges thereof within close contact with the sides of the ship. The ring 20 not only acts to brace the arms 16, but serves as a guard for the scraper blades 10 when handling the device.

What is claimed, is

In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing, of a turbine mounted in said casing, a shaft extending through said casing and connected to the turbine wheel, a hub splined upon the lower end of the shaft, oppositely disposed scraping blades formed lntegral with said hub and being arranged angularly with the plane thereof a coil spring surrounding the shaft to yieldingly hold the scraper blade in contact with the sides of a ship, a plurality of arms having their inner ends secured to the casing, a guard ring supported in the outer ends of said arms, said hub and blades being rapidly rotated upon air impacting with the turblne.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE l/V. RAMER. lVitnesses JAMES E. CLARK, ALBERT MULKEY.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

